Subject and Course Guides: English 160 &161: Introduction to Library Research: Kessler

English 161 Higher Education

Share your topic idea to the Jamboard for your class

Making a mind map of your Topic: Mind mapping, or concept mapping as it is also called, can be an effective way of brainstorming. By plotting out your topic in a visual manner, you can discover connections and identify any missing pieces. It's also a great way to develop keywords and synonyms for database searching. Once you develop your topic through mind mapping, it can be easier to pinpoint specific ideas to focus on in your research and writing.

Mind Mapping Guide

Consult these background sources to explore topic ideas and narrow down existing topics. Track down useful data and other information.

CQ : Congressional Quarterly Researcher
Provides snapshots of current affairs. Single-themed reports are researched and written by experienced observers from a range of viewpoints. From 1923 to present.
CQ Researcher Reports are published 44 times per year and cover political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the U.S. economy. Each 13,000-word CQ Researcher report is a unique work, investigated and written by a seasoned journalist.
Chronicle of Higher Education Online
The Chronicle is a primary source of news and information for the college and university community. New issues are posted on Monday mornings, with daily, Web-only updates.
Education Week
Education Week is a United States national newspaper covering K–12 education providing daily breaking news and an array of other information resources, including such popular news blogs as Politics K-12, State EdWatch, Curriculum Matters, and an array of opinion blogs.

National Center for Education Statistics
Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions.
Pew Research Center: Education
Pew Research Center: Education & Gender
Pew Research Center: Education & Politics
Pew Research Center: STEM Education & Workforce
United States Department of Education: Data & Statistics
VICE Education

The following resources are also listed under Databases on the library website. You can search Academic Search Complete, Education Research Complete and ERIC together through EbscoHOST.

Academic Search Complete
This multidisciplinary database provides access to articles from journals, magazines, and reference sources across all subject areas. Coverage is primarily from 1980 to the present, with some older content.
Education Research Complete
Search Education Research Complete in EBSCOhost.
ERIC on EBSCOhost
ERIC is the world's largest education database. Published by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI).
Google Scholar
Searches for scholarly materials such as peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from broad areas of research. It includes a variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web.

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English 160 &161: Introduction to Library Research

English 161 Higher Education

Locations

Richard J. Daley Library

Library of the Health Sciences-Chicago

Library of the Health Sciences-Peoria

Crawford Library of the Health Sciences-Rockford

Library of the Health Sciences-Urbana